Individual Therapy

You don’t have to have everything figured out before starting therapy. Individual therapy offers a space to slow down, make sense of what you’re carrying, and begin moving toward change at a pace that feels manageable. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, stuck in old patterns, or simply ready to understand yourself more deeply, therapy can help.

“Compassionate, integrative individual psychotherapy for adults in Ottawa.”

“A space to understand yourself deeply, navigate life, and create change.”

What is individual therapy?

Individual therapy is a one-on-one space where you can explore your thoughts, emotions, relationships, and life experiences with the support of a trained therapist. It can help you better understand yourself, work through challenges, build coping tools, and create change that feels aligned with who you are.

At Mana Therapy, we see therapy as more than symptom management. It can also be a place for reflection, healing, growth, and reconnecting with your inner strength.

Who is individual therapy for?

Individual therapy can support people through many different experiences — from stress, anxiety, and burnout to trauma, identity questions, relationship difficulties, and major life transitions. You don’t need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. Many people come simply because something in their life no longer feels sustainable, clear, or meaningful.

Emotional Well-Being
  • Anxiety and chronic worry
  • Stress and burnout
  • Low mood and depression
  • Emotional overwhelm
  • Self-esteem and self-criticism
  • Difficulty coping with intense emotions
  • Relationship challenges
  • Family conflict
  • Life transitions and uncertainty
  • Identity exploration
  • Cultural or intergenerational stress
  • Personal growth and self-understanding
  • Childhood trauma
  • Relational trauma
  • Grief and loss
  • Dissociation
  • Shame and inner conflict
  • Repeated patterns rooted in past experiences
  • ADHD-related challenges
  • Executive functioning difficulties
  • Work or school stress
  • Perfectionism and procrastination
  • Feeling stuck or unmotivated
  • Difficulty balancing responsibilities
  • Emotional disconnection
  • Pressure to stay strong or “hold it together”
  • Anger, shutdown, or avoidance
  • Relationship and communication struggles
  • Identity, purpose, and self-worth
  • Stress related to work, family, or expectations

How therapy works at Mana

1. Get your free consultation

We offer a free 15–30 minute consultation to help you decide whether therapy at Mana feels like the right fit.

During this consultation, we:

  • Get to know what brings you to therapy
  • Answer your questions about the process
  • Discuss your goals or concerns

2. Book Your First Session

Once you’re ready to begin, you can book your first session by phone with your therapist or yourself on our JANE page.

You’ll receive login details to your secure Jane account and appointment information to make the process simple and accessible.

Many clients feel nervous before their first session — this is completely normal. You don’t need to prepare anything in advance.

3. First Sessions

Your first sessions focus on getting to know you and understanding the bigger picture of your life.

This includes:

  • Understanding your history and current challenges
  • Identifying important relationships and life experiences
  • Discussing your goals for therapy

This step helps build a strong foundation for meaningful work moving forward.

4. Personalized Plan

After getting to know you, we work together to develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs.

This may include:

  • Identifying therapy goals
  • Learning practical coping and regulation skills
  • Understanding patterns that feel difficult to change
  • Exploring emotional or relational challenges
  • Building strategies that support long-term growth

Therapy is not one-size-fits-all. Your treatment plan is designed to reflect your unique experiences and priorities.

5. Therapy and Growth

As therapy continues, we adjust the process to meet your evolving needs.

This may involve:

  • Practicing new skills
  • Processing past experiences
  • Strengthening emotional awareness
  • Improving relationships and communication
  • Revisiting and updating goals as progress occurs

Some clients attend therapy short-term for focused support, while others benefit from longer-term work. Together, we decide what pace and frequency feel right for you.

6. Reviewing Progress

Periodically, we review your progress and reflect on how therapy is supporting your goals.

This allows us to:

  • Adjust your treatment plan when needed
  • Explore new areas of growth
  • Reduce session frequency when appropriate
  • Prepare for ending therapy when goals are met

Therapy is meant to support independence and confidence — not create dependence.

Our Approach

A personalized, integrative approach

Therapy at Mana is tailored to your needs, goals, and lived experience. Depending on what you’re navigating, our work may draw from approaches such as CBT, DBT, ACT, psychodynamic therapy, attachment-based work, trauma-informed care, and parts-based approaches such as IFS.

Rather than forcing one method, we focus on what will best support insight, healing, and meaningful change for you. We use a range of evidence-based approaches tailored to your needs.

Sessions
Details

  • 50-minute individual psychotherapy sessions
  • In-person in Ottawa and virtual across Ontario
  • Receipts provided for insurance reimbursement
  • Standard fee is $175/hour – Sliding Scale Available

Ready to begin?

Starting therapy can feel like a big step, but you don’t have to do it all at once. If you’re looking for a space to feel supported, understood, and challenged toward meaningful change, we invite you to begin.

FAQs

Do I need to know exactly what I want to work on before starting?
Not at all. Many people begin therapy with a general sense that something feels off, overwhelming, or difficult to manage. Therapy can help bring clarity.

How long does therapy last?
That depends on your goals, needs, and what kind of support feels most helpful. Some people come for short-term support, while others benefit from longer-term therapy.

Do you offer in-person or virtual sessions?
We offer in-person sessions in Ottawa and virtual sessions across Ontario.

Are sessions covered by insurance?
Many extended health benefits plans cover psychotherapy services. Coverage depends on your provider and plan.

How often do people usually come?
Many clients start weekly or biweekly, then adjust frequency over time depending on their needs and goals.